Week after week, teams have set out to slow down Hahnville’s dominant rushing attack led by Anthony “Pooka” Williams. That’s almost universally been a fruitless effort this season.
Williams has rushed for 2,908 yards on 278 carries, at over 10 yards an attempt, and he’s scored 39 total touchdowns. But the spotlight truly began to shine on the senior back as this year’s postseason unfolded — Pooka saved his best for last.
Williams’ rushing totals this postseason are: 26 carries for 305 yards (vs. Denham Springs); 42 carries for 303 yards (at Ruston); 27 carries for 353 yards (vs. Covington); and 25 carries for 213 yards (at Acadiana). He’s scored 14 times over those four games, not counting the signature score of them all, the two-point conversion run in overtime last Friday night that ended Acadiana’s home playoff winning streak.
That adds up to a total of 1,174 yards on 120 attempts, at 9.7 yards a carry, in the postseason alone. He’s also added a 99-yard kickoff return for a score (because why wouldn’t he?) and an iconic game-winning two-point run as Hahnville felled Acadiana in the state semifinals. It would be difficult to unearth a more impressive postseason resume — especially given Hahnville’s competition in Acadiana, Ruston and Covington, the 3, 7 and 2 seeds respectively in Class 5A.
“He’s the best player in the state of Louisiana, at least that’s how I see it,” said Hahnville head coach Nick Saltaformaggio. “If there’s someone out there who’s better, I’d love to see him.”
Williams’ highlights have increasingly been shared on social media as word of those performances spread. With his team on the doorstep of a state championship, he says the significance of those numbers hasn’t quite sunk in yet, though he admits it hits him here and there.
“When I saw it over the four games, 13 or 14 touchdowns and 1,300 (total) yards in the playoffs, I thought that was crazy,” Williams said. “It did make me start thinking, ‘Wow.’”
The University of Kansas committed athlete started turning heads before his sophomore season, when impressive performances at collegiate recruiting camps led Tulane to make him an offer before he saw his first significant varsity action.
Williams put together sensational back-to-back campaigns as a sophomore and junior. Last season, he rushed for 1,485 yards and 24 touchdowns on 169 carries, caught 32 passes for 706 yards and five touchdowns and added two more scores through the return game.
“He’s one of the most dynamic kids you’ll ever find,” said Hahnville coach Nick Saltaformaggio. “I thought when I was at East Jefferson, Ronald Green and Eugene Wells were once in a lifetime kids. Anthony is truly a once in a lifetime athlete. I haven’t coached anybody quite like him.
“In baseball, you have guys they call five-tool players. He’s kind of a five-tool player in football. He’s a kick returner, punt returner, he can catch ball as a split, can catch it out of a slot, he can run it downhill.”
He helped propel Hahnville to finishes in the quarterfinals and the second round, but following each playoff loss, Saltaformaggio lamented the fact he didn’t believe he got his best player the ball enough.
He vowed to address that during the offseason and kept his promise. In the key moments of Hahnville’s biggest games, Williams has gotten the call.
“In games like (those), you go with your best play and your best player,” Saltaformaggio said. “Anthony’s our best player.”
The Superdome turf is one surface the speedy Williams hasn’t yet burned up, but he said he and his teammates plan to make themselves at home.
“When we went up to Acadiana and went up to Ruston, that’s how we felt,” Williams said. “We’re looking to dominate and make (the Superdome) our home ground.”
He called it a moment he and his teammates, particularly his fellow seniors, have waited for with great anticipation.
“I remember going unbeaten in freshman ball and all of us talked about how we were gonna get to the Dome in our senior year,” he said. “And our dream is coming true.”
The work is not yet done, though.
“It’s not just about getting there,” Williams said. “We’ve gotta finish what we started. (Anything else) would be like running a 100 meter race and stopping at 95. We can’t shortchange ourselves, we’ve gotta finish.”
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